Task Flows

Once the tasks have been established, putting those tasks into a sensible order, or flow, is an important step. Task flows (Figure 5.11) show the logical connections that will be built into wireframes (discussed later in this chapter). You can't, for instance, use the Back button on your Web browser to go back to a previous page until you've been to more than one page. You can't dial a mobile phone until you've entered a number. You can't change your preferences until you've registered. And so on.

Figure 5.11. Task flows like this one show the logical connections between actions.

Putting tasks into flows helps the designer begin to see the product take shape. Task flows can suggest page order on a Web site or in a wizard. Since task flows show when users will have to perform certain actions, they help clarify the implementation of controls (see Chapter 6). And when decisions have to be made, flows show where menus and information (or affordances) will have to be included.